Submissions now open for the 2019 NC Comedy Festival. Taking place April 17th-27th http://nccomedyfestival.com/?page_id=16 Headliners are still TBA last year’s headliners included Sasheer Zamata, Todd Glass, and Eddie Peppitone.

Vanessa (Pants) Tortolano has been slinging funnies since she was old enough to talk back. Involved with theatre and the stage since the age of 5, Vanessa has just begun the practice of stand-up comedy in the last few years. She has also been a regular performer with Madison’s Monkey Business Institute since 2011. Vanessa is a feisty mother of 4 teenagers and one of the Co-founding owners of NessAlla Kombucha.

Larry Garza is a comedian based out of San Antonio, Texas and a founding member of the award winning sketch group Comedia A Go-Go. He will be returning to the stage in after a long break from fighting Stage IV Kidney Cancer.

Garza, is the 2016 Funniest in South Texas winner, plus a Funniest in Texas and World Series of Comedy finalist. He was diagnosed with Stage IV Kidney Cancer May of 2016 and has undergone multiple surgeries after the disease spread to his lung, then to his brain later that year.

He still managed to produce his comedy special, BIG MAMA GOD AND THE HAZEL EYED MONSTER before his surgeries fulfilling his dream of doing so.

His performance will feature bits from his special as well as new material pertaining to his battle with cancer, the misconceptions of the disease and its “cures,” as well as the sub-culture associated with it.

Whether drawing from his non-Spanish speaking Latino roots growing up on the South Side of San Antonio, his wife and children, his battle with cancer or expounding upon his love of pop Culture, religion and horror movies, Larry Garza is a fearless and versatile performer that will have you laughing at topics you never thought you would.

Katie McKelvie uses comedy to work through her anxiety about various apocalyptic scenarios, death, and the challenges of parenting small, slightly feral children. She has performed at venues throughout the D.C. area, including the D.C. Improv Lounge, Cozzy’s Comedy Club and Tavern, the Big Hunt, and as part of the Charm City Comedy Festival.